Defense
Senate panel moves bill creating reconstruction reserve corps
Corps would be made up of 250 active-duty personnel and 2,000 standby personnel, with most employees coming from the State Department and USAID.
Management
Divided House approves $2.9 trillion spending blueprint
Members reject GOP alternative calling for $279 billion in spending cuts over five years and a freeze in nondefense discretionary spending.
Defense
Senate passes wartime spending package with two GOP votes
President Bush vows again to veto the bill because of the billions in extra nonmilitary spending and the Iraq withdrawal timeline.
Management
Interior seeks to settle Indian trust fund disputes for $7 billion
Litigants say proposal is unacceptable, object to the bundling of a class action suit with tribal cases.
Management
Dems expand probe of political presentations at agencies
House oversight committee chairman wants details on White House policies, list of briefings.
Defense
Panel may hold hearings on emergency wireless project
Agencies are reconsidering the viability of program to provide a communications network for first responders.
News
Amtrak CEO: Rail service will suffer under 2008 budget
Company is seeking $1.53 billion for fiscal 2008; administration has proposed $800 million, plus a matching program for capital improvements.
Tech
DHS science chief vows more accountability, innovation
Department’s science and technology branch has been reorganized into six technical areas to improve efficiency.
News
Federal recruitment campaign expands with three new ads
Advertisements prompt more visits to the government’s official job search Web site, OPM says.
Tech
GSA awards three companies Networx telecom contracts
Sprint, which provides 30 percent of current telecommunications services, left out of massive procurement.
Pay & Benefits
Shielding Benefits
Federal employment protects benefits where the private sector can’t.
Defense
House panel approves Homeland Security authorization bill
Committee backs amendment repealing the department’s authority to implement a new personnel system.
Defense
Navy resists offers of more ships, submarines for 2008
Shipbuilders may be unable to meet higher demand, service officials say.
Defense
Military medical facilities plagued by IT problems
Data management problems extend beyond Walter Reed, congressional staff member says.
Tech